Overwatch Sniper Rifle
For other uses, see Sniper Rifle (disambiguation). |
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| Overwatch Sniper Rifle | |
|---|---|
| Production information | |
| Faction | |
| Manufacturer |
Combine |
| Type |
Stationary sniper rifle |
| Technical specifications | |
| Damage |
Very High (instant kill versus all targets but Freeman) |
| Ammo type |
Dark energy plasma |
| Rate of fire |
Approximately one shot every 3-5 seconds |
| Recoil |
Low |
| Spread |
None |
| Projectile speed |
Very fast |
| Accuracy |
High |
| Range |
Extremely far |
| Usage | |
| Used by | |
| Counterweapon(s) |
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The Overwatch Sniper Rifle is an emplaced pulse rifle used by Combine Snipers. Identifiable by its iconic blue laser sight, Combine Snipers use them to guard key areas.
Overview[edit]
The Overwatch Sniper Rifle is a large marksman pulse rifle that has a slow firing rate of about once every four seconds, but yields incredible stopping power. A single round can kill virtually any living entity, be it rebel soldiers, headcrabs, zombies, or other Combine units. Gordon Freeman's HEV Suit allows him to survive more hits, but he is still significantly hurt when being shot by the weapon.
When active, a blue laser is emitted from the weapon to aid in targeting enemies. However, this sight also gives away the shooter's position and makes dodging the bullets fired from it easier for those with quick reflexes. The weapon apparently requires a power source, as the player can find an inactive one during the trip to White Forest which needs to be reactivated by the Lone Vort. This rifle is also mounted on a fixed pivot, which may explain why when snipers are killed the rifle is not ejected with them.
Appearances[edit]
The weapon is used by Combine Snipers in both Half-Life 2 and its following Episodes. They are often positioned in wide open areas, blocking off access to critical passages or serving to eliminate Gordon's allies. They can only be disabled by killing the sniper.
In Half-Life 2: Episode One, Alyx takes control of a sniper rifle after Gordon has killed the sniper originally manning it. She uses it to provide cover from Antlions and Combine soldiers.
During the third chapter of Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Freeman Pontifex, Alyx used a mounted sniper rifle to provide cover for Gordon as he navigates the zombie-infested complex.
Related Achievements[edit]
| Half-Life 2: Episode One | |
|---|---|
|
Live Bait (10G) |
| Help Alyx snipe 30 enemies in Episode One. | |
Trivia[edit]
- In Episode Two, throwing or shooting an explosive into or near the sniper's nest while Alyx is using it causes a Combine soldier to tumble out and Alyx to stop shooting, due to Alyx actually being a reprogrammed sniper NPC.
- This does not happen when Alyx uses the rifle in Episode One.
- If the "Alyx" sniper is killed and the player proceeds into the next area where Alyx should be using her rifle, they will find Alyx to still be using the rifle. This could be because every separate area where Alyx uses the rifle spawns in a friendly combine sniper when entered and despawns that same sniper when exited rather than having one friendly sniper NPC be present throughout the entire area.[source?]
- When the player first encounters the viewable sniper rifle, the barrel is clearly sticking out of the hole in the fencing. When Alyx actually starts shooting, the barrel is no longer visible, as with the rest of Combine snipers.
- The Sniper Rifle was going to be an accessible weapon in Half-Life 2, but it was removed for game balance. It is present in the Half-Life 2 leak and many modifications, as well as in Half-Life 2: Survivor.[1]
- The rifle's design appears to be based on the South African NTW-20 sniper rifle. It could also be based on the Keppeler & Fritz KS II Prescision, the Walther WA 2000, or a combination of these.
- In the retail Half-Life 2, the rifle was louder and could be heard being cocked after each shot; this is most likely because the Combine Snipers wielded cut bolt-action Sniper Rifles. However, in Episode One and Episode Two the rifle appears to be suppressed and makes a 'wind up' sound after each shot. After the May 2010 Half-Life 2 update, this was retconned, giving Half-Life 2 snipers the same pulse gun sound effect.
- The sniper rifle fires physical shots which can be observed and dodged, especially at greater distances. However, the shot moves so quickly that it becomes nearly impossible to dodge up close.
List of appearances[edit]
- Half-Life 2 (First appearance)
- Half-Life 2: Episode One
- Half-Life 2: Episode Two
